Identify rat droppings, Guinea pig droppings or bird feed

Dansp · Post by **Dansp** » Sat Aug 27, 2022 6:42 pm

Can any please identify the droppings in the attached photos?
They were not there 2 weeks ago and now they are.

They are between a fence and a shed base approx 7 metres from the house and no food in the area. No signs of rats anywhere. We have 2 very good hunting cats who have not bought a rat home but often bring voles and birds.

There is every chance that a neighbour has put them there so don’t assume they have to be natural.
I have noticed that they are all very similar size and have a line ( they look manufactured to me)

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Aug 27, 2022 7:39 pm

Does it really matter where the poop came from?
As for cats catching rats, I don't think so. (Small dogs yes, cats, jury still out on that one)
Why not put down a couple of rat traps and find out? I suggest "snap traps" baited with small piece of mars bar (works for me)

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sat Aug 27, 2022 7:48 pm

99% winky pigs
rat runs have a oily trails and many knawed timber/cable/pipe areas
also there shoild be paper/straw/other bedding material assuming its spilled contents off a caged animal :dunno:

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sat Aug 27, 2022 8:34 pm

I would say Guinea pig shite. How it got there.who knows, you must have your suspicions.

DWD

adonis · Post by **adonis** » Sat Aug 27, 2022 10:19 pm

I wouldn't use a snap trap there if you suspect rats, you don't want a wounded animal like a fox or a cat on your hands.

Use a bait station for rats and mice.

I have just noticed it is on an upper rail, looks like it might have come from above.

aeromech3 · Post by **aeromech3** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 4:07 am

That much in 2 weeks suspicious, likely rat family droppings but from where!
Whatever, you need to be extremely careful cleaning up, using chlorine bleach or sumat.

Argyll · Post by **Argyll** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 5:30 pm

Does your neighbour have pets? They might be throwing them over the fence.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 6:09 pm

i am 99% sure it guineapig
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffsb&q=guinea ... &ia=images

Dansp · Post by **Dansp** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 8:15 pm

The neighbour has Guinea Pigs and we dislike each other in equal amounts so I suspect so.
Council web site states that I have to enter mediation before I can use Environmental Health.
Does anyone have any knowledge of how to ensure they are punished using the system?
Other options welcome also

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 9:13 pm

CCTV watching the area.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 10:13 pm

Be careful escalating this as any disputes have to be declared and can cause issues when you come to sell. It is pointless taking it further, yes it is petty but realistically I doubt anyone will proceed against him as it is all speculative. Even with CCTV evidence, it is such a trifling matter that I doubt any authority would spend time on it, lets's face it they do not even bother with burglaries. The guinea pig poo is digested vegetable matter so it is not harmful like dog shite. Try to ignore it, the bloke is a t*at.

DWD

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sun Aug 28, 2022 10:23 pm

before you put any real thought behind any actions remember cleaning the cages will be down to the kids so mischief 'laziness'carelessness may mean a subdued wait and see if any further incidents happen before deciding what further action may be best
the actual poo is off no concern as they are vegetarian so no nasty bugs or discharge even when wet
does the space fully belong to you ??

Bob225 · Post by **Bob225** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 10:11 am

Owning and accidentally breeding Guinea pigs - its pig pellets looks like 3-4 of them, rat dropping are much bigger and more of a teardrop shape

Yes cats will take down rat's up to about 10-12" tip to tail, we have had a few good ratters over the years

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Aug 29, 2022 10:25 am

Collect it up and make Ratshit screwdrivers

DWD